Ankit SharmaMay 1, 2023
David Slifka

Easy to miss in Mastodon's latest update, but the most-requested features are indeed coming "soon:"

"...quote posts, improved content and profile search, and groups. We’re also continuously working on improving content and profile discovery, onboarding, and of course our extensive set of moderation tools, as well as removing friction from decentralized features. Keep a lookout for these updates soon."

https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2023/05/a-new-onboarding-experience-on-mastodon/

@spreadmastodon @fediversenews

A new onboarding experience on Mastodon

Today we’re making signing up on Mastodon easier than ever before. We understand that deciding which Mastodon service provider to kick off your experience with can be confusing. We know this is a completely new concept for many people, since traditionally the platform and the service provider are one and the same. This choice is what makes Mastodon different from existing social networks, but it also presents a unique onboarding challenge. To make this step easier, we now have a default sign-up option that works with a server we operate. If you wish to leave or join a different server, you can do so at any time.

Mastodon Blog
May 1, 2023 at 2:28pmWeb
Show threadhammancheezMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews I'm not seeing 'pre-cached library of catgirl reaction gifs' anywhere in the feature request list
Show threadhammancheezMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews why are u degenerates boosting my shame
Show threadMrShoggothMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews - I thought no quote posts was a feature, to limit the virulence of discussion. 🤔
Show threadDavid SlifkaMay 1, 2023
@MrShoggoth @spreadmastodon @fediversenews Someone put together an interesting literature review showing that there was little to no evidence that QTs increase virulence.
Show threadjaz  May 1, 2023

@davidslifka @MrShoggoth @spreadmastodon @fediversenews there's a great roundup here: https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2023/01/12/quote-tweeting-over-30-studies-dispel-some-myths/

Community discussion here: https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/14597

and here:
https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/109623910323239777

Quote Tweeting: Over 30 Studies Dispel Some Myths - Absolutely Maybe

The first myth to dispense with: That there’s almost no research on quote tweets! I added to this misconception with my December…

Absolutely Maybe
Show threadEsther  🌱🐾🍋 #fcknzsMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews thank you.
Show threadMike FraserMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews Super important quote. We often forget (myself included) that dev time is not real time. When we cry out for a feature it's not like they have a magic wand and can simply whip it up in 48 hrs. Acknowledging the demand for these features is an awesome first step.
Show threadDrew MochakMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews But I heard from some guy on the internet that adding quote posts to mastodon would break social media forever. You mean to tell me that one guy on the internet was wrong? Astounding.
Show threadJens Comiotto-MayerMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews This: »We believe it’s important for Mastodon to be good as a product on its own merits, and not just because of its ideology.«
Show threadRob ChristopherMay 1, 2023

@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews

Excellent.

Show threadErlendMay 1, 2023

@davidslifka @fediversereport @spreadmastodon I’m not as critical as some to the new default sign-up. But I think it’s weird (and a bit cowardly?) to not address the criticism he’s gotten head on.

It would’ve been very easy to add something about why they won’t include other instances in rotation, or perhaps some steps they’re taking to make migration easier and/or more promoted etc.

This seems like something written BEFORE the discourse we’ve had.

Show threadRileyMay 1, 2023
@havn @davidslifka @fediversereport @spreadmastodon at least the reasoning for the change is stated in pretty clear language.
Show threadBlueTurtleMay 1, 2023

@havn tbh, I don’t like that change. Imo there would have been better solutions, for example a rotation like you suggested. This is an anti decentralization change.

Any hints, where I could find the discourse you mentioned?

Show threadErlendMay 1, 2023

@BlueTurtleAI Yeah, I don't like it either - I just don't HATE it as much as some... ☺️

Here's some discussion: https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon-ios/issues/1023

Heres a good blog post (not by me, but by someone with the same name 😅): https://writing.exchange/@erlend/110261768883604161

And here's two posts that sparked some: https://mstdn.social/@feditips/110260432218416976
https://tech.lgbt/@FediThing/110270637356170591

[BUG] App onboarding is directing new users to join mastodon.social by default · Issue #1023 · mastodon/mastodon-ios

Is there an existing issue for this? I have searched the existing issues Current Behavior With the current setup, the app strongly implies users should just join mastodon.social, with a harder-to-r...

GitHub
Show threadBlueTurtleMay 1, 2023
@havn great, thanks!
Show threadBlueTurtleMay 1, 2023
@havn I will read it in more detail tomorrow. But I think there is a general important point here: who decides which changes are made?
Show threadParanoid FactoidMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews Mastodon should implement Zot for post migration next.
Show threadMigrated to @[email protected] 🏳️‍🌈🎃🇧🇷Luana🇧🇷🎃🏳️‍🌈May 1, 2023
@fediversenews @davidslifka @spreadmastodon yay quote toots!! And better search!(?)
Show threadMigrated to @[email protected] 🏳️‍🌈🎃🇧🇷Luana🇧🇷🎃🏳️‍🌈May 1, 2023
@spreadmastodon @davidslifka @fediversenews That new first screen on the official app is horrible tho (just like the rest of the app, but let’s not talk about that). They shouldn’t recommend mastodon dot social (or any server) over the user’s choice.
Show threadKevin RussellMay 1, 2023

@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews

I am not concerned with the single server onboarding, although I also support thousands of servers, so lets work to do both.
With Respect.

Maybe methodologies to move servers EASILY.

Make sign-on easy, build communities with hashtags and groups.

Show threadAlex0007May 1, 2023
@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews "Pick my own server" label should be "Pick another server" imo
Show threadminhtrungMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka 👍 @spreadmastodon @fediversenews
Show threadTengrainMay 1, 2023

@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews

⬆️

WANT!

Show threadMillie CafeMay 1, 2023
@davidslifka this will change #microblogging as we know it on Mastodon!
Show threadAT-AT Assault 🏳️‍⚧️May 1, 2023

@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews

I'm ~~happy~~ ecstatic for *markdown*. It makes formatting and inflection wonderful. Hopefully it gets implemented soon, so all the markdown I've already been using is automagically applied.

Show threadDennis longMay 2, 2023
@davidslifka @JonathanMosen @spreadmastodon Awesome this will make the experience far better. They can’t come soon enough
Show threadJürgen HubertMay 4, 2023

@davidslifka @spreadmastodon @fediversenews We shouldn't forget that the core Mastodon team is _small_, and implementing new features takes time.

(On the other hand, they have no CEO who hands out instructions based on daily whims and/or Twitter fights. Count your blessings...)